Namibia: Floods DREF Application MDRNA013

Heavy rains were received in southeastern parts of Angola and northeastern parts of Namibia in the Cuvelai catchment during the 2nd week of January 2023, resulting in flooding conditions in Ondjiva and surrounding areas.

First floodwaters were observed in some of the eastern flowing Cuvelai Iishanas (river plains) in the morning of Friday the 13 January 2023 and during the early hours of the 17th of January, the hydrological recording station at Shanalumono located approximately 10km southwest of Oshikango reported floodwaters reaching the central Cuvelai Iishanas (river plain) with local media reporting dozens of homes flooded in several villages including Engela and Ouhongo (https://floodlist.com/africa/angola-namibia-floods-cuvelai-january-2023#:~:text=In%20Namibia%2C%20water%20flowing%20from,villages%20including%20Engela%20and%20Ouhongo.). Shanalumono is one of the main Iishanas (river plains) of the central Cuvelai River System on the Namibian side. According to the Namibia Hydrological Services, the water levels in the main Iishanas (river plains) south of the Angola/Namibia border are rising. On 27 January 2023, water levels at Engela station exceeded the 1m mark. Flood levels continue to increase as more rain persists in the Cuvelai catchment.

The government with the support of Namibia RC has started some assistance to the affected people but given the increasing numbers of people affected and the limited support available for the affected households, on the 6 and the 7 of February 2023, the Oshana and Ohangwena regional councils issued formal requests to the NRCS to support the affected households.

The NRCS commenced joint assessments with the different government departments in the Ohangwena and Oshana regions on the 14th of January 2023. A total of 2190 people are affected by the floods with 582 people (111 households) whose houses were totally submerged in water and 1608 people (327 households) whose houses were partially submerged. Of the total 2190 affected people, 300 people are from the Oshana region, and 1890 people are from the Ohangwena region. 582 people (111 households) whose houses were totally submerged were displaced and evacuated to 9 relocation sites (7 camps are in the Ohangwena region and housing 332 people, whilst 2 camps are in the Oshana region and housing 250 people). As 35 schools in the Ohangwena region, school equipment, and infrastructure have been damaged and 18 of the schools are currently closed. At several schools, learners have started camping at the school as they are not able to return to their homes on a daily basis due to the rising water.

In the Ohangwena region, three (3) clinics have been cut off with communities not having access to them

Source: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent